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As the days grow longer, volunteers at Feline Rescue are preparing for kitten season by transforming discarded drink coolers into shelters for the area’s feral cat population.
On Saturday, a dozen volunteers gathered at the St. Paul nonprofit to clean, cut and modify the coolers into protective homes for outdoor cats.
Adam Charrier is a volunteer who has been involved with the program for several years. “My father would cut the coolers and I do the taping,” he said. “It’s been built out a lot more since then.”
The process involves cleaning the coolers, cutting entrance holes and carefully taping the edges to prevent injuries. Volunteers then secure the tops, add hay bedding for insulation, and seal each unit with weatherproof plastic.
Mai Niah Xiong, who joined Feline Rescue in November as a shelter caretaker, found the experience rewarding.
“I’m just a caregiver for the cats. It’s actually really fun,” she said. “I saw the email for it, and I thought, well, I have time, so I might as well just help out.”
According to the Animal Humane Society, spring marks the beginning of kitten season — a period between April and October when longer daylight hours trigger breeding cycles, leading to a surge in the feral cat population.
While outdoor cats are considered an invasive species that impact local wildlife, the goal isn’t elimination but management. Many animal welfare organizations, including Feline Rescue, recommend trap-neuter-return programs,. This is where cats are humanely captured, spayed or neutered, and returned to their outdoor environments.
The shelters provide protection during year-round harsh weather conditions and create safer spaces for vulnerable kittens.
These modified coolers are available free to community members who notice feral cats in their neighborhoods. Feline Rescue plans to host additional building events throughout the year.
